Senior Project Manager

Southern Water; Chatham; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead design and construction programmes within the wastewater network and Developer Services growth sub-programmes. You will oversee budgets, governance, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver projects on time and within cost.

Strong leadership, problem solving and stakeholder management are essential. The role offers hybrid working within the Southern Water region and involves significant responsibility for safety, risk and value

Qualifications

• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Knowledge of delivery management and change control processes.
• Understanding of risk and value management in large programmes.
• Ability to manage budgets and resources for complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct design and construction programmes within schedule and budget.
• Manage and coordinate workstreams and tranches, ensuring governance and assurance.
• Assign competent resources and motivate a team of professionals.
• Collaborate with SDP/DP to maximise efficiency and deliver plan milestones.
• Oversee procurement and supplier performance for delivery partners.
• Escalate risks and issues and drive change control as needed.
• Ensure compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Line management

Project management

H&S standards

Water/utility industry

Communication

Financial awareness

Stakeholder relationships

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Science/Engineering/Management (or equivalent)

Member of professional institute (Chartered or working towards)

Job description

Closing Date

2026-09-04

Job Title: Senior Project Manager

Location: Flexible within the Southern Water Region (Hybrid working)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37

Salary: From £70,800 based on skills and experience

About the role:

The Senior Project Manager (SPM) plans, directs, manages and provides clear oversight of
assigned design and construction programmes to ensure that business goals and objectives are accomplished within prescribed schedule and budget parameters.

This role is specific to the wastewater network / infrastructure programme and related Developer Services and Growth sub-programmes.

What you will be responsible for:

The SPM is responsible for the overall budget and quality objectives of significant projects and or programme of works.

The role will be integral in delivering the step change in performance and efficiency required within the business, and as such will need to have a good understanding of delivery management, the ability to problem solve and facilitate meetings to achieve consensus to maintain programme.

• Ensuring effective workstream and tranche governance and assurance is in place using Assurance functions as appropriate
• Assignment of competent engineering and project management resources
• Leading and motivating a team of professionals, setting objectives and goals
• Collaborative and integrated team working with SDP and DP's to maximise efficiency opportunities.
• Coordinating the project teams in the delivery of the Workstream & Tranche Execution Plans including:
• Transforming business needs into workstreams, tranches and projects
• Ensuring projects are optimised and deliver on efficiency savings
• Planning for and maximising Risk & Value (R&V) scope definition and opportunities
• Ensuring R&V process is followed and timely decisions made to avoid delay
• Identifying interdependencies between workstreams, tranches and projects
• Management of environment and planning issues
• Management and coordination of stakeholders
• Management of Developer's requirements.
• Procurement including negotiations with supply community
• Actively support the risk management activities required to manage escalated risks from the Projects
• Management of Risk and Change at workstream and tranche level
• Approval of Change at tranche level
• Supporting the Sponsor regarding direction and coordination of workstreams and tranches i.e. identifying, initiating, accelerating, decelerating, redefining and terminating projects
• Escalating potential change to Regulatory stakeholder expectations
• Monitoring progress and performance of the workstreams and tranches, in particular:

Accountabilities:

• Health & Safety leadership and assurance for the workstreams and tranches
• Compliance management through the Investment Decision phases
• The production of Delivery Plans that meet the strategic objectives and securing approval by the Programme Steering Group
• Ensuring workstreams and tranches deliver the outputs required by the Sponsor for the approved budget
• Providing direction on proposals to resolve workstream and tranche issues.
• Providing direction on new or existing workstream and tranche risks in accordance with the risk management strategy.
• Ensuring the risk management deliverables of Projects are compliant with the Risk Management Process.
• Managing the Strategic Delivery Partner (SDP) and Delivery Partner (DP) procurement process (direct award or mini competition).
• Escalating team and supplier performance issues as required.
• Managing planned and reactive schemes, when deliveredby capital delivery.

What you'll bring to the role:

Knowledge & Experience:

• Line management
• Project and contract management (Delivery Partner and Strategic Delivery Partner)
• H&S standards and regulations
• Water or utility industry
• Water and Wastewater regulations
• Construction Practices
• Management of various stakeholder relationships
• Developer Services (optional)

Skills & Qualifications:

• A UK Drivers Licence & vehicle
• Degree qualified in a Science, Engineering or Management subject (or equivalent experience)
• A member of an appropriate professional institute (Chartered or working towards)
• Excellent communication skills
• Highly organised and able to multi-task
• Strong financial awareness
• Team management
• Managing various stakeholder relationships
• Implementing transformation change
• Strong problem-solving capability
• Strong delegation skills

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain's water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information:

In line with Southern Water's security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment.

Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.